Indiana State Police (ISP) are asking drivers to avoid a portion of I-65 on Friday morning after winter weather conditions and crashes have triggered massive backups.
A Thursday snowstorm reportedly triggered as many as 100 crashes on I-65 in northwestern Indiana, forcing some drivers to spend Thursday night on the road.
I-65 near Rensselaer Simply a mess that won’t be cleared up anytime soon @WBBM780Traffic @WGNMorningNews @WGNtraffic @RegionNewsNow @nwi @cbschicago @nbcchicago @rozvaronABC7 @SarahJindra @fox32news @INDOTNorthwest pic.twitter.com/EluRJuYexs
— Sgt. Glen Fifield (@ISPLowell2) February 18, 2022
Around 4:30 a.m. on Friday, ISP says that a truck lost two steel coils on northbound I-65 at mile marker 213.7 near Rensselaer.
Current view I-65 NB 213.7 mm courtesy Trp. Robertson pic.twitter.com/3FndMTyr8Q
— Sgt. Glen Fifield (@ISPLowell2) February 18, 2022
State police say that they are having trouble finding tow trucks to remove the crashed vehicles. ISP warned that the crashes would take hours to clear.
Around 10 a.m. on Friday morning, ISP shared aerial video of a massive number of trucks backed up on northbound I-65 from mile markers 201 to 215.
Troopers are asking drivers to avoid the area until further notice.
Current view I-65 NB Please do not plan on traveling north on I-65! @ISPLafayette @WBBM780Traffic @indiana105 @WGNtraffic @SarahJindra @rozvaronABC7 @nbcchicago @cbschicago @fox32news @RegionNewsNow @nwi @lakecounty911 pic.twitter.com/7I0ipiNeUa
— Sgt. Glen Fifield (@ISPLowell2) February 18, 2022
Trooper say that they are transporting some drivers to hotels if rooms are available.
Several drivers remain stranded and many are being transported by Troopers to local hotels if there are rooms even available. @cbschicago @nbcchicago @rozvaronABC7 @SarahJindra @WBBM780Traffic @fox32news @indiana105 @ISPLafayette @RegionNewsNow @nwi @NWINews @LCHSEMA @IDHS
— Sgt. Glen Fifield (@ISPLowell2) February 18, 2022